The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-08-10
The LIFE OF A Scout.
by WARE.


But little time for refreshmcnt and rest
as given to scouts, especially on the eve or
a great battle, or even while in the vicinity
of an enemy we'll known to be largely SUI
perior in numbers and equipments.
Couriers ride hastily, night and day,
from the commanding generals to the
quarters of generals of corps and divisions.
Various changes of position were made
10y the infantry, under orders from Gen.
,eral Bragg so that an officer of division
when asked for his opinion as to our
chances for success in the impending bat
tie, replied:
"Uniess Generals Morgan and Forrest
can arrive in time" the former was in Ken
lucky and the latter in West TENNESSEE "to
strike General Rosecrans rear, we are
whipped!-for our men are already ex-
hausted with marching and countermarch-
ing, and are in bad form for meeting the
superior force which General Rosecrans
has at hand"
The results of the battle of Murfrees-
boro, or Stone River are matters of his
tory; and our failure to pursue the adj
vantagfs won, and the slaughter of the
Kentuckians, under the gallant Breckin-
ridge, on the memorable Friday evening
Black Friday-are charged to tho debit
side OF the proper account.
IneIelOre sCOuiS Dul llltlc W uu-
swer for on this occasion, as they could
only criticise movements, and wish that
they-bad q commander who was not so
ready to run the wrong way.
IL was not the intention to hold position
TO the north of Murfreesboro till General
Rosecrans retired within the sheltering
works around Nashville, but TO obey orders
no matter how counter to their Judgment
or wishes retrograde movement might be.
SO we submitted to the inevitable, and
Joined General Bragg IN another mastery
retreat.
Heartsick and footsore, our troops fell
back to Shelbyyille, after having punished
General Rosecrans too severely to permit
of his pressing us while in retreat,
Here they found kind. sympathizing
friends, and hands ready to minister to
their hurts, as well as to soothe their NOR
'tification mt being ordered to throw away
the fruits of victory so nearly and so
dearly won.
After reaching Shelbyville our scouts
passed several days having clothing washed
and repaired, having horses shod, and in
making general preparations for the road,
as We well knew that Major Walker would
soon have us in the saddle, for he was a
man of wonderfully earnest energy.
On the evening of the second day after
VIC buciDN Nliic bht COili-
municated his designs. and directed that
'the whole troop be in readiness for an early
move.
But next morning we learned, with deep
regret, that Major Walker would be trans
felred to another department.. Officers
and men were much attached TO him for
his uniform kindness and urbanity, and we
had the highest estimate of his courage
and soidierly qualities.
Several of the men preferred to 90 with
'him but others had ties in old Kentucky
which held them away from the sea- coast.
Before our complete reorganization we
had ample opportunities for becoming ac-
quainted with many of the citizens in and
around Shelbyvlle, and we learned unmis-
takablv that there were not q few of these
good people whose ideas political did not
accord with our own.
But the time for us to move had arrived.
and, after taking leave of the Major and
receiving from HIM an earnest God bless
you, boys" we dashed out of town by the
road leading to Columbia.
About this time General Joseph Wheeler
was promoted to rank as General of Divis-
! soG- and such officers as Forrest and Nor
gan were held subordinate to him!
Through this means We were near losing
the services of General Forrest, who ten
dered his resignation. The War Depart
lment would not accept his resignation but
created a new department, and he took his
brigade 10 their new field Of operations.
General Van Dorm, after capturing the
Federal stores at Grand Junction. Hum
boldt, ETC., now arrived and took COM
imand OF all our cavalry, with headquarters
at Spring Hill, about twelve miles from
Franklin, Tenn.
Our scouts were soon under his orders
and proceeded to work toward Nashville,
from the waters of South Harpeth.
The position thus occupied was some
eighteen miles in advance of cavalry out
posts; but we were subject 10 little inter-
ference, as the Federal cavalry then came
no further west than Big Harpeth, seven
teen miles from Nashville.
We soon became familiar with the coun-
try, ana learned the by-paths so thoroughly
that half dozen regiments could not have
hemmed us in, nor could they have so
closely guarded the fords and Big Harpeth
as TO have prevented close cores ondence
with our friends in the City of Rocks"
Within two weeks after entering upon
this new field we had established nine
regular reliable channels through which
information was received-to say nothing
of many other means for obtaining grape
vine" intelligence, which we appeared 10
drink in greedily, but to which, in reality,
but little heed was given.
One of the most serious obstacles with
which We were forced to contend was the
early appearance of detachments which
acre led by officers who were anxious TO
communicate more directly with friends in
Nashville. These officers would obtain
authority from supeliors 10 make a
scout" and, while many OF them were in
discreet, others cared but little for the
extra amount of trouble. labor and hazard
imposed upon those who were located in
that section for regular scout duty.
The result of inroads made by those
numerous scouting parties" was TO at
tract tie enemy's attention toward the
west, and lead them to guard, not only the
turnpike roads leading out of Nashville
and crossing Big Harpeth to the west, but
TO watch closely the dirt roads which ran
parallel TO those turnpikes and crossed
rthe river at intermediate points.
So that, in order to reach the north bank
sof Big Harpeth, We were compelled TO
cross il at night 10y swimming, or by means
of ford Which was hidden by dense un-
derbrush, which not unfrcquently was